An Emirati woman in Abu Dhabi has reversed diabetes in two years after she embarked on a healthier lifestyle.
Huda Al Ali was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in 2019 and was unaware of how her high blood sugar levels were slowly damaging her heart.
The 51-year-old developed the condition in 2002 after she started to suffer from Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
The disease increases the risk of type-2 diabetes, and the cortisone shots she had to take to control Crohn's raised her blood sugar levels significantly.
Huda was able to change her diet completely and she was able to exercise in a more regular fashion
Dr Aftab Ahmad
She found out about her diabetes 17 years later when the symptoms started to escalate.
“I was not monitoring my sugar levels while on the cortisone shots, it just escalated,” said the retired Royal Jet manager.
“Two years ago, I started feeling more and more lethargic, drowsy and thirsty. I knew something wasn’t right.”
She visited a clinic in Abu Dhabi and was told that her blood sugar levels were dangerously high.
“I was shocked to hear that my blood sugar was over 500mg/dL. A blood sugar level less than 140mg/dL is normal. The cumulative glucose was 13.7 per cent but the normal should be 6 and for diabetics the maximum should be 7; if it reaches 8, it is dangerous,” she said.
Cumulative glucose is the amount of haemoglobin with attached glucose and reflects the average blood glucose levels over the past six months.
She was told to consult a specialist at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi.
“They prescribed insulin, cholesterol pills and told me precisely what to do to drop down the sugar level,” she said.
Ms Al Ali said she followed the doctor’s orders and revamped her lifestyle.
“I have two daughters, Alya, 34, and Afra, 33, who are always cautious of their health and whenever their weight starts to increase they immediately follow a strict diet. I am the one who usually prepares their food so I started eating healthy as well,” she said.
“I only use original olive oil to cook, and we don’t cook Emirati food such as rice and chicken every day. Instead, we prepare light food like salads, grilled fish and chicken.”
Whenever she craves carbs such as bread and rice, Ms Al Ali said she eats a quarter of the portion she used to have.
The hardest change, she said, was giving up sweets.
“I have never imagined that I could quit dessert and sugar. I always took sugar with my morning coffee.”
She cut down from three teaspoons to half a teaspoon and started using alternative sweeteners until she reached zero sugar in her drinks.
“And when I go to the supermarket and see the cakes and desserts I say ‘a’uwthu bi Allah min al shaytan al rageem’, an Arabic prayer that translates as 'I seek refuge from Allah from the outcast Satan'."
Muslims often recite this prayer to avoid temptation, anger or any sort of potential harm.
Ms Al Ali said she does not completely deprive herself. Instead she "controls the amounts" she consumes.
“I managed to bring down the sugar level to 6.5 per cent [in three months]. It was a miracle how I was able to control it," she said.
Before her lifestyle changes, Ms Al Ali said she weighed 98kg. Eight months later, it had fallen to 70kg.
She also managed to reduce her blood pressure levels from 140/70mmHG to an average of 125/65mmHG and cut her bad cholesterol by 50 per cent from 2.6mmol/L to 1.3mmol/L within a year.
This resulted in a reduction of her overall cardiovascular risk score from a high 17 per cent to a negligible 0.7 per cent.
Dr Aftab Ahmad, consultant endocrinologist and diabetologist at the centre, said lifestyle changes are the “cornerstone, and can even lead to redemption of diabetes”.
He said that Ms Al Ali suffered from high cardiovascular risk. But the issue usually is “how much a person can implement the proper lifestyle”.
“With Huda, there were multiple factors: her weight and cholesterol were uncontrolled, and all of those were serious cardiovascular risk issues," he said.
“She was able to change her diet completely and she was able to exercise in a more regular fashion.
“And the compliance with the medication, which is another lifestyle, change came into play. If the patient doesn’t commit to them it is of no use.
“We were trying to prevent it. She doesn’t have a heart problem now.
“We can still fight and prolong life, but it is about preventing the event from happening in the first place because one cardiovascular event could be a heart attack or a stroke that would reduce life expectancy.”
Diabetes in remission with a healthy lifestyle - in pictures
Brief scores:
Toss: India, opted to field
Australia 158-4 (17 ov)
Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24
India 169-7 (17 ov)
Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22
Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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UAE rugby in numbers
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700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Tenet
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, Kenneth Branagh
Rating: 5/5
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%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The five pillars of Islam
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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